Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans for community employment; and her further plans to ring fence community employment schemes specifically for persons being rehabilitated from drugs. [24662/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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From 1st January 2011 policy and funding responsibility for FÁS functions in relation to employment and community employment services was transferred to this Department in accordance with the provisions of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010.

A number of special community employment projects operate under the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. As part of the Strategy (whose primary objective is to continue to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs), FÁS is committed to providing 1,000 places on such projects as part of the overall funding for the community employment programme. These 1,000 community employment places are ring-fenced for persons undergoing rehabilitation from drug addiction. Specific criteria exist for these places and the eligibility for participation. These were revised and agreed with the sector in 2010/2011.

Further work is under way in the context of the National Drug Rehabilitation Implementation Committee to review the allocation of these places and ensure that appropriate referral protocols are in place. Participants can be in specific drug response projects or may be in 'mainstream' community employment projects.

It is my intention to ensure the continuation of such projects subject to the overall budgetary constraints for the community employment programme.